SCREED HEATING ELEMENT TESTING PROCEDURE

A SCREEDS ABILITY TO HEAT ASPHALT IS CRUCIAL. IF A SCREED IS NOT HEATING PROPERLY IT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PRODUCE AN ACCEPTABLE MAT. AN OPERATOR SHOULD KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR FAULT CODES THAT MAY APPEAR IN THE GSC GENERATOR CONTROLLER. ANOTHER INDICATION THAT A HEATING ELEMENT IS NOT HEATING PROPERLY IS A POOR MAT OR, MORE LIKELY, A BROKEN MAT. THE FOLLOWING IS A PROCEDURE THAT CAN BE USED TO TEST A SCREED HEATING ELEMENT THAT IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. 1) BEFORE PERFORMING A PROCEDURE ON ANY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, BE SURE THAT ALL STEPS ARE TAKEN TO ENSURE SAFETY. MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE INVOLVED IS A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL AND THAT THEY ARE WEARING ALL THE APPROPRIATE SAFETY EQUIPMENT. 2) MAKE SURE THE PAVER IS IN STOP POSITION AND THAT THE PARKING BRAKE IS ENGAGED. 3) EXTEND SCREED TO ACCESS ALL HEATING ELEMENTS. (FIGURE 1)

HEATING ELEMENT ACCESS

JUNCTION BOX

HEATING ELEMENT PLUG

FIGURE 1

SCREED HEATING ELEMENT TESTING PROCEDURE

4) TURN IGNITION TO THE OFF POSITION. 5) DETERMINE WHICH HEATING ELEMENT IS IN QUESTION.

CAUTION! SCREED AND HEATING ELEMENTS MAY BE HOT!

6) FOLLOW THE STAINLESS STEEL WIRE LOOM GOING FROM THE FAULTY HEATING ELEMENT TO THE JUNCTION BOX. (SEE FIGURE 1) DISCONNECT THE LOOM FROM THE JUNCTION BOX. 7) USING A MULTIMETER SET TO OHMS OF RESISTANCE, TOUCH THE BLACK AND RED METER PROBES TO THE TWO SHORT PINS INSIDE THE PLUG AND OBSERVE THE OHMS READOUT. (SEE FIGURE 2) REFER TO THE OHMS CHART AT THE END OF THIS PROCEDURE TO DETERMINE THE CORRECT READING.

FIGURE 2

SCREED HEATING ELEMENT TESTING PROCEDURE

8) MAKE ANY NECESSARY CHANGES OR ADJUSTMENTS. 9) RECHECK THE OHMS AS WAS DONE IN STEP 7. 10) RECONNECT ALL WIRING AND CLOSE ALL ELECTRICAL BOXES. 11) RESTART THE MACHINE AND START HEATING SCREED TO CHECK FOR PROPER OPERATION. THE FOLLOWING IS A CHART THAT CAN BE REFERENCED WHEN CHECKING THE RESISTANCE (OHMS) BETWEEN THE 2 POWER LEADS OF A HEATING ELEMENT.

DIFFERENT ELEMENTS IN USE

POWER (watts at 208 vac) 300 600 1500 1500 RESISTANCE (OHMS) 134 OHMS 71 OHMS 27 OHMS 29 OHMS LENGTH (INCHES) 12 IN. 24 IN. 46 IN. 58 IN.

RESISTANCE VALUES FOR BLADE TYPE CARLSON ELEMENTS

POWER 1500w 1700w 2000w 3000w RESISTANCE (OHMS) 36-42 OHMS 33.8 OHMS 28.8 OHMS 19.0 OHMS

OIL TUBE WITH INTERNAL ELEMENT

POWER 1500w RESISTANCE (OHMS) 36-42 OHMS